Judge orders immigration officials to release key witness in Texas ICE shooting
Summary
A federal judge ordered U.S. immigration officials to release Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego, a key witness in the fatal shooting of a Mexican homebuilder by an ICE officer in Houston. The judge found that keeping Rojas Pliego detained violated his legal rights and blocked his deportation while his legal status is being reviewed.Key Facts
- Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego was a passenger in a van when ICE agents fatally shot Lorenzo Araujo Salgado on July 7, 2026, in Houston.
- Araujo Salgado was a Mexican homebuilder who had lived in the U.S. for 35 years and was close to gaining legal status.
- ICE claimed the officer fired because Araujo Salgado used his vehicle as a weapon to try to run over the officer.
- Rojas Pliego and another witness said officers were beside the van, not in front or behind, disputing the government’s story.
- The judge found that Rojas Pliego’s detention violated his Fifth Amendment right to due process.
- Rojas Pliego has applied for a U-Visa, which could protect him from deportation and allow him to work legally.
- The judge ordered immigration to release Rojas Pliego within 48 hours and requires notice and a hearing if they try to detain him again.
- The shooting has caused protests and calls for an independent investigation into the incident.
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